Austria has signed up to build part of Russia's South Stream gas pipeline, while keeping a hand in the competing European pipeline Nabucco. READ MORE

Many observers declare that almost two years after the August war in Russia, Georgia appeared to be outside of the list of major issues among western politicians, as well as in Russia and world Mass Media. The one of reasons for that is the sound cooling of attitude of western leaders towards the personality of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili who remained without urgent support of the resigned colleagues from the USA, Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania. During the last Munich International Conference on Security Georgian President seemed to be lonely. READ MORE

Gas agreements between Russia and Ukraine will not be the reason for reviewing similar contracts with Russia's partners, including Belarus and other CIS countries. This statement was made on April 22 by the head of Russian Ministry of Energy, Sergei Shmatko. "Our negotiations with Ukraine are completed successfully and I don't think they will cause the review of relations with other partners", Russian minister said. READ MORE

Key direction in Kazakhstan's foreign policy is the development of relations with the European Union. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Belgium and Luxembourg, Head of Kazakhstan's Mission to the EU and NATO Yerik Utembayev told about the status and prospects of development of Kazakh-EU. READ MORE

On 22-23 April at the informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Tallinn, NATO’s new Strategic Concept that should be agreed on in November during the Lisbon Summit was discussed. READ MORE

Former Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev said the resignation he signed had not come into force because the interim authorities reneged on a promise to protect his relatives. READ MORE

Ukraine has agreed to a lengthy extension for the Russian Black Sea Fleet's base in Crimea in exchange for a major discount on Kyiv's imports of Russian gas. READ MORE

Speech by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen - Tallinn, Estonia READ MORE

NATO foreign ministers are breathing a collective sigh of relief as skies in Europe clear from volcanic ash and their April 22-23 meeting in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, can now officially go ahead. READ MORE

NATO Secretary General Anders Rasmussen has appealed for a joint missile defense shield with Russia to cover Europe and offer protection from a possible terror attack. But analysts are still cautious about its prospects. READ MORE